I found this thread among SoundExpert referals and was a bit surprised with almost complete misunderstanding of SE testing methodology and particularly how diff signal is used in SE audio quality metrics. Discussion on the topic from 2006 actually seems more meaningful. So I decided to post here some SE basics for reference purposes. I will use a thought experiment which is close to reality though.

Suppose we have two sound signals – the main and the side one. They could be for example a short piano passage and some noise. We can prepare several mixes of them in different proportions:

equal levels of main and side signals (0dB RMS)

half level of side signal (-6dB RMS)

quarter level of side signal (-12dB RMS)

1/8 level of side signal (-18dB RMS)

1/16 level of side signal (-24dB RMS)

After normalization all mixes have equal levels and we can evaluate perceptibility of the side signal in the mixes. Here at SE we found that this perceptibility is a monotonous function of side signal level and looks like this:

(1) In other words, there is a relationship between objectively measured level of side signal and its subjectively estimated perceptibility in the mix. And what is more:

(a) this relationship is well described by 2-nd order curve (assuming levels are in dB)(b) the relationship holds for any sound signals whether they are correlated or not, the only differences are position and curvature of the curve.

(2) These side stimulus perceptibility curves are the core of SE rating mechanism. Each device under test has its own curve plotted on basis of SE online listening tests. (3) Side signals are difference signals of devices being tested. Levels of side signals are expressed in dB of Difference level parameter which is exactly equal to RMS level of side signal in our case.(4) Subjective grades of perceptibility are anchor points of 5-grade impairment scale.(5) Audio metrics beyond threshold of audibility is determined by extrapolation of that 2-nd order curves. Virtual grades in extrapolated area could be considered as objective quality parameters regarding human auditory peculiarities.

So, yes, difference signal is used in SE testing. We take into account both its level and how human auditory system perceives it together with reference signal. Some difference signals having fairly high levels still remain almost imperceptible against the background of reference signal and vice versa; perceptibility curves reflect this.

This is the concept. Many parts of it still need thorough verification in carefully designed listening tests, which are beyond SE possibilities. All we can do is to analyze collected grades returned by SE visitors. This will be done for sure and yet this can't be a replacement of properly organized listening tests.

SE testing methodology is new and questionable, but all assumptions look reasonable and SE ratings – promising, at least to me. Time will show.

Breaking masking by amplifying a difference signal by fixed arbitrary amount will not guarantee real-world performance. This is a problem.

Individual ABX testing has always taken precedence over group testing on this forum. If someone feels that he or she is (or has become) more sensitive to artifacts then a new test can always be performed.